After walking with Lara for a while, I saw something that looked interesting.

''A magic sword.......tournament?''

　I stop.
　A lot of people had gathered around the reception area.
　A special stage surrounded by ropes can be seen at the back.

　What the hell is that...?

The Magic Sword Tournament. It's the main event of Culture Day.
What is that?
We're going to have a duel with the entrants. It's a winner-take-all tournament, and the winner gets a prize. Look at this!

　Lara points to the one displayed above the reception area.

The prize is an invitation to the southern country of Jio Halwa!　And for two people!　It would be great fun to go with Kurt...

　After saying that, Lara glanced at me.

''Since it's called a magic sword competition, do I have to use a magic sword?''
'No one can handle a magic sword like Kurt!　I mean the 'demon' in magic, the 'sword' in swordsmanship, even if you're confident in either, you can participate in the magic sword tournament!

　Hmm. Apparently, the real magic sword has nothing to do with it.

　But still, a tournament, huh?
　It's going to be interesting.
　As I've said many times before, there will be people from other countries in attendance today.
　There's no guarantee that there won't be someone strong among them.

　Hence, I am.

"All right, Lara. I'm going to be there.
Oh, yeah?

　I tug on Lara's arm and walk out to the reception desk.

I'm going to get you an invitation to that southern country. Of course, I'm sure I'll win, but you can try your hand at it, too. If you're lucky, you might even get to fight me.
Invitation Ticket...!　Kurt, for me....

　Hmm?
　Lara's eyes glazed over.

　But soon, she put more effort into her eyes.

I'm going to do my best, too! I'll do my best too!　I'm pretty sure I'd lose if I hit Kurt but I'll see how well my powers work too.
That's the spirit.

　That said, it goes without saying that I'm not that interested in the invitation ticket myself.
　Lara says she's going to try to see how well it works, but with her power, she won't lose unless she's against someone who's not very good.

''I'm sorry. I'd like to participate in the tournament for both of us...''

　The same as in the past.

'The magic sword tournament is about to begin!　All the roughnecks in the world, you'll get tired of eating good food at festivals, won't you?　So we created a place for them to run amok!　You can rampage around here to your heart's content and win great prizes!'

　When the MC said that, the audience surrounding the stage exploded with cheers.

　It's quite a gathering of people.
　The contestants for the tournament seemed to have gathered about fifty people.

''Then, let's play the first round right away!　A vision from a neighboring country. 'No-man-n-n-n-n-n-n!'

　A man who seems to have been called by name goes up on stage to the cheers.
　He has the appearance of a gentleman.

''And Norman's opponent is the strongest adventurer here in the royal capital, Kurt-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!
"[W]ooohhhh!

　More cheers occurred than before.
　That's why I'm not an adventurer, though.

　Well, it's a pain in the ass to deny it.
　Without saying anything, I went up on stage and looked at my opponent, Norman.

'I heard that. I heard that you are an SSS-ranked adventurer, a rarity in the long history of the royal city.

　Norman or something said with a generous smile.

''Well it looks like it's happening.
''But I won't be defeated either. After all, I'm a man of twenty years of age, and I'm the man entrusted with the platoon commander of the Order!　We can't afford to lose to a mere adventurer.

　He's quite a narcissist, as far as I can tell, as long as he's patting himself on the back.

　Norman picks up a sword.
　It's a thin sword (rapier).

'Hajime!'
"Ha!

　As the match begins, Norman closes the distance between us and fires a sharp thrust.
　But that's just the standard for this era.
　After a moment of absent-mindedness, I ducked with my sword.

"..........　I'll do it!

　Norman's eyes widened in astonishment as he measured the distance.

'But I'm not serious yet either. A hundred assaults a second, unleashed now!　If you can duck, then I'll duck!

　He's the kind of guy who prefers to explain himself, isn't he?

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make your life easier.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most of this opportunity.
　I'm not aiming at the same spot, but rather at my eyes, nose, heart and stomach.

It's a good idea. You are quite good at it.

　I would backstep and even pay off the rapier that was chasing me, sometimes with my right hand.
　With minimal movement, I nullified a hundred thrusts.

''Wha........!

　Norman is stunned to see this.

'How dare you!　You're going to avoid all my thrusts.........?
'That makes pretty good sense. I suppose it's also true that you've been appointed as a platoon leader in the Order.

　But I'm not quite there yet.

　Now, shall I also turn to attack?
　I didn't pick up the magic sword hanging from my waist, but rather the pen I kept in my chest.

''Okay, I'll show you some of my skills.
What?

　Norman narrows his eyes dubiously.

'Are you kidding me?　It's a pen. How are you going to beat me?
'Don't you know the saying, "The pen is mightier than the sword"? I'm telling you that it's enough to beat you.

　I gave him a light challenge, and Norman turned red in the face.

'Buuuuut, you're so insulting!　I'm not a mongrel adventurer like you, I'm a platoon leader of a group of elites and a knightly order!　By insulting me, that means you are trying to undermine the entire Order.......!

　He's an overzealous guy.
　He readies his rapier again.

'Brace yourself. I didn't want to use it here but it can't be helped. Take it!　The Two Hundredth Parallel Attack!

　Norman thrusts his rapier out.

　But before he can make a single thrust, I put my magic into the pen.
　Then I unleash a thousand(...) thrusts in one second on Norman.

''Guaaaaaah!''

　Norman took a decent thrust and blew up to the ropes that were stretched around the stage.
　But that wasn't enough to stop him from moving.
　Norman's body went off the stage and hit his head so hard that he passed out.


'No, Norman, Kurt wins by way of the field!　'Strong, oh, oh, oh!'


　When the MC announced my victory, the people, who had been quiet for a moment, cheered again.

'Whoa!　That guy is awesome!
'Of course!　You don't know Kurt?　We slayed dragons in the Empire, man.
I think he's going to win this thing.

　Norman didn't seem to know much about me, but as expected, the people in King's Landing seem to understand.

''It's great - as expected of Kurt!　It's the coolest!

　There was Lara in the crowd and she was jumping around happily.

'So this is how you prepare for it,'

　I muttered and put the pen back in my breast pocket.